Band saw blade manufacturing method

ABSTRACT

A method of and apparatus for handling a band saw for the purposes of effecting manufacturing and/or repair operations upon the band saw characterized by, during such manufacturing and/or repair operations upon the band saw (5), supporting the band saw in such manner that the weight of the band saw (5) is not carried by an edge of the band saw (5). The support includes rotatable supports (24, 25) for supporting the band saw; the rotatable supports being positionally adjustable to accommodate differing band saw lengths; and in that adjustments are provided for enabling the rotatable supports to be displaced to advance the band saw to a machining station (22) for defining a working station/position at which a manufacturing and/or repair operation can be effected.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is concerned with the manufacture of saws of the kind inwhich the individual teeth of the saw are provided with hard materialtips.

In particular, the present invention is concerned with the manufactureof band saws, and more particular to the manufacture of wide band sawswhich latter can conveniently be regarded as having a body depth from,for example, 100 millimeters to depths of the order of 350 millimetersor possibly more.

In general, the hard material tips, which have been conventionallyformed from a number of materials i.e., tunsten carbide, are attached tothe individual teeth of the band saws and have, in practice, to be verycarefully positioned and firmly secured/mounted to the teeth, and alsoneed to be accurately machined to provide the desired angularrelationships between the working edges/faces of the tips whichedges/faces have been found to be essential for the required standardsof operational performance from the thus tipped band saws.

Conventionally, after such attachment to the teeth and any postattachment treatments such as heat treating, swaging deemed necessary,each such tip must be machined to provide predetermined angularrelationships between the front face, the top face and the two sidefaces of the tip. In particular, the top and front faces have to becarefully angled with respect to the cutting direction/rotation of thesaw when in use so that the required so-called front face rake angle andtip height is attained, and at the same time the requisite shapes forthe gullet regions between adjacent teeth of the saw are preserved. Inaddition, it is conventionally necessary for the two side faces to bemachined i.e., ground to the form required.

It is known to carry out such machining of the tips by mounting the sawwhose tips are to be machined to machine(s) so that the body of the bandsaw is vertical with the teeth whose tips are to be machined uppermost.Such machines are conventionally provided with means for correctlypositioning a saw tooth whose tip is next to be ground with respect to agrinding wheel or grinding wheels so that the wheel or wheels can becaused to effect a required machining operation, and with means forindexing i.e., advancing, the saw so that the next tip to be ground canbe moved to the position at which it can be machined as required.

In the case of the machining of band saws of large physical dimensionssuch as is involved when machining long wide band saws which can be oflengths measured in meters and have a saw body depths as previouslymentioned i.e., for example, 200 millimeters there arises considerabledifficulties and problems in relation to the physical handling of thesaw.

Furthermore, it is necessary to bear in mind that with these knownmachines for machining band saw tooth tips it is necessary to ensurethat the plane of the saw body to be machined is positioned accuratelyvertical during the machining operations.

With this particular alignment of the band saw body, in order to mountthe band saw to the machining apparatus the saw has to be man-handled sothat it straddles the grinding machine whereby the machine iseffectively located within the boundary of the band saw in order thatthe teeth of the saw can be successively presented to the actualgrinding location/station of the machine at which locations grindingwheel(s) are operationally provided.

In view of the overall length of the band saw special saw supportarrangements have to be provided to ensure that the edge of the sawremote from the edge with the teeth required to be machined ismaintained in the correct horizontal plane for the purposes of machiningof the tipped teeth. With this arrangement the part circular lengths ofthe band saw at the end portions/regions of the band formation, that arelocated up-stream and downstream of the grinding wheels being used tomachine the saw, have to be mounted upon suitable supports which notonly enable correct and acceptable supporting of the saw but also enablethe saw to be progressively indexed past the apparatus grinding station.

The indexing of the saw effectively stepwise moves the body of the sawthrough the machining station. The end regions of the band saw, thepositions of which latter being effectively defined by the overalllength of the saw band are likewise supported. Usually, the supports forthe saw such comprise a series of rolls mounted upon suitable supportswhich maintain the horizontal setting for the edge of the saw remotefrom the teeth being machined. With this arrangement the saw usuallyneeds to be supported at a considerable number of places.

Since, for the purposes of machining the saw teeth, the teeth projectupwards to create a very hazardous environment in the vicinity of themachine.

A further problem arises when it is required to machine band saws whichare double sided in that the saw includes teeth on along opposite edgesof the saw body so that what ever the vertical orientation of the sawthere are teeth located along the bottom edge of the saw. It followsthat the tipped teeth when in the bottom position carry the total weightof the saw and as a result are prone to damage whilst the teeth alongthe opposite edge are being machined. This damage is highly undesirableparticularly since the very purpose of machining is to produce veryprecisely formed cutting edges whereby any damage effectively destroysthe usefulness of the band saw.

It is an object of the invention to simplify the handling of band sawsfor the purposes of machining the hard material tips provided on theteeth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Broadly, according to a first aspect of the invention there is provideda method of handling a band saw for the purposes of effectingmanufacturing and/or repair operations upon the band saw. Themanufacturing and/or repair operations can include finishing the teethof the band saw by applying hardened tips to teeth of the band saw,and/or by machining the surfaces or faces of said tips, metallurgicallyaltering the band saw teeth or tips, swaging the band saw, or machiningor grinding at least parts of the teeth of the band saw. During suchmanufacturing and/or repair operations upon the band saw the weight ofthe band saw is not carried by an edge of the saw. The band saw ismounted upon rotatable supports positionally adjustable relative to eachother to accommodate different lengths of saw.

Broadly, according to a further aspect of the invention there isprovided a method of handling a band saw in which the plane of the bodyof the saw is positioned non-vertically/horizontally for the purposes ofeffecting manufacturing and/or repair operations upon the band saw. Therotatable supports for the band saw are so positioned that the lengthsof the band saw between the rotatable supports are generally horizontal.

Broadly, according to a further aspect of the invention there isprovided a method of handling a band saw for the purposes of machiningthe surfaces/faces of tips provided upon the teeth thereof involving thestep of mounting the band saw on the supports and advancing the supportsand the thus mounted band saw to a work station/position at which theband saw can be subjected to at least one manufacturing and/or repairoperation so that the planar surface of the body of the saw issupported.

Broadly, according to a further aspect of the invention there isprovided apparatus for effecting manufacturing and/or repair operationsupon the band saw in which band saw is so positioned that the plane ofthe body of the saw is non-vertical/horizontal for the purposes of suchoperations. Preferably, the method includes the step of mounting therotatable supports also for heightwise adjustment such that therotatable supports and a band saw carried thereby can be raised to suchlevel with respect to the operational work station/position that a lowerlength of the band saw is presented to said work station/position.

Broadly, according to a still further aspect of the invention there isprovided apparatus for the purposes of effecting manufacturing and/orrepair operations upon the band saw in which during such manufacturingand/or repair operations upon the band saw the weight of the band saw isnot carried by an edge of the saw.

In accordance with a still further aspect of the invention there isprovided apparatus for the machining of a band saw, characterized inthat the apparatus includes means for so supporting the saw during themachining thereof that the body of the band saw is so positioned thatthe planar surface of the body of the saw is supported upon supportmeans. Broadly, according to a further aspect of the invention there isprovided apparatus for handling a band saw for the purposes of effectingfinishing operations upon the band saw, the apparatus includingrotatable support means for mounting the band saw in a generallyhorizontal setting for the purposes of said operations and so that theweight of the band saw is not carried by an edge of the saw; means forenabling positional adjustment of the separation of axes of rotation ofthe support means to accommodate mounting and unloading differing bandsaw lengths; means for defining a work station/position at which saidfinishing operation can be effected; and means for enabling therotatable supports to be axially displaces towards or away from the workstation thereby to advance or withdraw the band saw to or from said workstation for effecting manufacturing and/or repair operations upon theband saw in which the band saw is so positioned that the plane of thesaw is non-vertical/horizontal for the purposes of such operations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how to carry thesame into effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawingsin which:

FIG. 1, very schematically illustrates the conventional orientation of aband saw with respect to a tooth tip grinding machine;

FIG. 2 shows to an enlarged scale a fragmentary length of a band saw theFigure schematically illustrating a typical tooth and tip formation;

FIG. 3, very schematically illustrates a machine, specifically for tipgrinding, incorporating the concepts of the invention; and

FIG. 4 very schematically illustrates the machine of FIG. 3 whenincorporating a modified form of band saw handling arrangements;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the FIG. 1 veryschematically depicts a conventional operational layout for a band sawtip grinding machine 1. The machine includes a main body 2 to which ismounted a saw support frame 3 serving to carry a plurality of sawsupport members 4 commonly formed by rolls. Further saw guide andsupport members 4 are or can be mounted from the machine body wherethought to be useful and/or convenient. These various guide and supportmembers 4 are so positioned with respect to the body 2 of the machine asto ensure that a band saw 5 to be machined is supported in a desiredposition with respect to the machine throughout the machining of thetips 7 provided upon the teeth 7A of the band saw as indicated in FIG.2. The members 4 are so positioned that the saw 5 is supported with itslower edge 6 in a generally horizontal plane. Since the band saw bottomedge 6 is carried by the rolls 4 it can be indexed in conventionalmanner i.e., displaced lengthwise of the machine body 2 so as to bringsuccessive teeth tips 7 thereof into a tip grinding station/position ofthe machine at which the tooth/tip can be machined to what ever profileas required by a grinding wheel arrangement very schematically shown at8.

The grinding wheel arrangement 8 incorporates an electric motor 9,having an output shaft 10 which carries the grinding wheel 11. Thearrangement 8 includes means (not shown) whereby the grinding wheel 11can be advanced and retracted as required for the purposes of thegrinding operation.

These arrangements 8 can include, for example, hydraulic rams forcontrolling the displacement of the grinding wheel 11 towards and awayfrom a tip 7 and possibly tooth gullet 7B to be ground. Such drives andwheel positioning arrangements are very well known and do not requireelaboration in this specification.

The positioning of the grinding wheel 11 is Inter-related with theindexing of the saw 5 successively through the tip machining position orworking station.

Conventionally, the indexing means 12 includes a finger 13 which ispositioned so that during indexing it is able to push against the gulletregions 7B of the teeth 7A to advance to next tooth 7A whose hardmaterial tip 7 is next to be machined into the correct position in whichit can be machined by the grinding wheel 11.

Clamping means 14, that are schematically shown in the Figure, areprovided for firmly clamping the saw 5 against movement whilst a tip 7is being machined. Such clamping arrangements are generally well knownin the known machines.

Control arrangements 15 are provided for ensuring that the clampingmeans 14 are released whilst the saw 5 is being indexed and for ensuringthat the saw is firmly clamped against displacement during grindingoperation on a tooth tip. The control arrangements can comprisehydraulically or pneumatically operable clamp pads 16 which can becaused to press against opposite faces of the saw to prevent movementduring machining,

The band saw 5 is effectively so supported relative to the machine body2 that longitudinal lengths/portions 5A and 5B of the saw are positionedat opposite sides of the machine body 2. It will also be noted that theopposite curved end regions 5C and 5D of the saw are well spaced fromthe machine 2, the extent of spacing depending upon the length of theband saw 5.

It is also important to note that the teeth 7A and tips 7 of the saw areupwardly directed so that they always present a sharp pointed hazardcondition.

Since the longitudinal portions 5A and 5B of the band saw 5 arepositioned to both sides of the machine body 2 it becomes necessary inorder to mount the saw to the machine 1 or to remove the saw from themachine 1 to lift the saw over the grinding machine 8. Bearing in mindthe weight (many kilos) of the band saws of the sizes likely to bemachined and the flexibility of the saw body the operation of sawmounting or saw removal is relatively difficult. Such difficulties maywell be enhanced by the presence of housings/hoods commonly provided tocontrol the distribution of grinding detrius with respect to themachine. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that as a result of thepresence of the sharp teeth tips 7 the handling of the saw is fraughtwith difficulties and danger to persons handling the saw during themounting upon the machine and particularly during removal of the nowsharpened band saw from the machine after the machining operations havebeen completed.

A further problem arising with the known apparatus particularly arisesin the machining of double sided band saws in that teeth are providedalong each longitudinal endless edge of the saw. As a result during themachining operation with the known machines the total weight of the sawhas to be carried by the tips on the teeth of the longitudinal edge thatis cooperating with the saw support arrangements. In the case of thedouble sided band saw, the support arrangements on the tip grindingmachine have to be such that the teeth thereof do not foul or jam withthe support arrangements during indexing. This problem can involveconsiderable problems in supporting the saw during tip machining andexcessive machine wear.

An additional factor is that the total weight of the band saw whenmachining the tips along one longitudinal edge has to be supported bythe already sharpened tips on the teeth along the other edge. Hence,when the supporting tips have already been machined they are readilyprone to damage during the machining of the other tips.

Referring now to FIG. 3 this as mentioned very schematically illustratesa band saw grinding machine incorporating the concepts of the invention.

As has been indicated the concepts of the present invention provides amethod and apparatus for machining a band saw in which the plane of thebody of the saw is such that the weight of the saw is not carried by anedge of the saw when being machined or otherwise subjected tomanufacturing/repair operations such as tipping,swaging heat treating,tip face grinding etc.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a machine for the machining of a bandsaw 5, the machine including means for so supporting the saw during themachining thereof that the body of the band saw 5 is maintained in aposition in which the weight of the blade is not transmitted through anendless edge of the band saw.

Since the actual individual operations involved in the production/repairof a band saw such as the machining of the hard material tips providedupon the teeth of a band saw are basically the same what ever theorientation of the band saw during machining of such tips it is notthought necessary to provide highly detailed drawings and associateddescriptions of the individual components of the machine incorporatingthe concepts of the invention such components including means for topand front face machining; aide face machining; swaging; heat treatingwhether separately involved or where two processes are possible with asingle machine. For example, in relation to the machining of the tipfaces the machining components could include the grinding wheel and itsdrives; the indexing mechanism and its operational control arrangements;the construction of the machine body for mounting such operationalelements, the form and positioning of operating levers and/or wheelsand/or any electrical/pneumatic/hydraulic circuitry for inter-relatingthe operation of the said various components.

Thus, for the purpose of this description, only a broad indication willbe given of the location of such components which are particularlyrelated or otherwise consequential upon the positioning of the band sawbody as required by the concepts of the invention during machining orother operation to be carried out upon the band saw.

Referring now to FIG. 3 in particular, the apparatus of FIG. 3 includesa main machine body 20 providing a main support table 21 which lies in ahorizontal plane and which defines a horizontal surface for supportingin a horizontal plane the horizontal portion/length 5A body of the bandsaw 5 whose hard material tips are, in the arrangement shown in the FIG.3, to be machined for its lengthwise displaceable movements with respectto the machining station/position 22 of the machine for the purposes ofthe machining of the hard material tips 7 provided upon the teeth 7A ofthe band saw 5.

The opposite end portions 5C and 5D of the band saw are carried bysupport wheels 23 and 24 rotatably mounted upon support shafts 25 whichare in turn mounted from support rails 26,

With this arrangement the support wheels are selectively displacablerelative to each other to enable band saws of differing lengths to bemounted to the machine, and also to enable the support wheels 23 and 24to move lengthwise of their shafts when loading/unloading a band saw tothe machine.

In the position shown in the FIG. 3 it will be noted that theportions/lengths 5A and 5B are horizontal and are located one above theother as compared with the vertical arrangement of the known machinesexemplified by FIG. 1.

The table 21 thus serves to support a length 5E (part of thelongitudinal length 5A) of the saw 5 extending to either side of themachining position/station 22 at which is located means for effectingthe particular manufacturing/repair operation intended, for example, inthe case of tip grinding, a grinding wheel assembly 27.

This grinding wheel assembly 27, includes an electric motor 28 whoseoutput shaft 29 either directly or through a gear box or equivalentdrive operationally connects with a grinding wheel 30. The assembly 27includes means 31 (schematically shown as a block) which enables thegrinding wheel 30 to be positionally displaceable towards and away fromthe tip 7 which is to be machined when at the grinding position/station22.

It should be noted that whilst in the FIG. 3 only a single grindingwheel has been shown, in practice, depending upon the particularmachining operation or operations to be carried out upon a tip 7 and/ortooth gullet more than a single grinding wheel may be required. Theprecise nature of the grinding wheel assembly 27, will thus be set bythe particular face or faces of the tip 7 and/or gullet it is desired togrind. That is, which of the various possible faces upon a tip 7 it isrequired to be able to grind; i.e., top face; front face; and/or sidefaces. In a highly complex arrangement it may well be desired to be ableto machine the two side faces, the top face and/or the front face andperhaps the gullet also. In such a case two or perhaps three grindingwheels assemblies and associated grinding wheels could be involved. Inpractice, the nature of the faces to be machined will effectively decideupon the number of, the relative positioning of, the operational sizesand/or operational speeds of the grinding wheels, and as a consequencethe structure of motors and their associated drives to the grindingwheels.

In practice, the particular formation of the support table in thevicinity of the machining station will be such as to allow access to thetip 7 to be machined by what ever grinding wheel or wheels assembliesare involved whilst at the same time ensuring that the support given tothe length/portion 5E of the saw 5 in the vicinity of the machiningstation 22 is not excessively reduced.

For the purposes of this specification a suitably dimensioned recess hasbeen indicated by the line 32, the recess being provided to accommodatethe grinding wheel or wheels etc., during the use thereof. In otherwords, during machining of a tip 7 clearances have to be provided forthe execution of the positioning and the grinding movements of thegrinding wheel(s) 30.

It is necessary to ensure that the saw is correctly positioned withrespect to the machining position so as to ensure as far as possiblethat each tip 7 to be machined is, before grinding, located in aprecisely similar position when in the machining position/station 22.This positioning is achieved by a combination of saw indexingarrangements and saw guiding arrangements. The saw guide arrangementsinclude a guide bar 33 which is intended to guidingly cooperate with thelength SE of the band saw 5 in the immediate vicinity of the workingposition/station 22. To achieve this requisite guiding the guide bar 33cooperates with the band saw edge that is remote from the edge with theteeth 7A with the tips 7 to be machined.

In order to counteract the possibility of the band saw drifting awayfrom the guide 33, rolls 33A, suitably angled with respect to thedirection of advance of the saw during indexing, are associated with theguide 33. These rolls 33A press downwards onto the surface of the sawlength 5E to produce a component of force which tends to urge the sawalways into operational contact with the guide 33.

The machine includes a saw position indexing means 34 which isschematically shown as a finger 35 projecting from a control unit 36which is operative to cause the finger 35 successively to cooperate withthe gullet regions 7B of the teeth 7A so as for each of its indexingmovements the band saw 5 is displaced through a distance equal to thetooth pitch of the saw each time it is required to advance the next tip7 to be machined to the working station 22.

Since it is essential that the saw should not move whilst any of theaforementioned operations are carried out upon the saw i.e., whilst atip is being machined, clamping means 37 are provided for preventing anysuch movements by cramping the aforesaid length 5E firmly against thesupport 21.

In particular, the clamping means 37 can comprise an elongate bar 38 (asindicated in the FIG. 3) which is located in the vicinity of the tip 7being machined and extends to either side of such tip 7. The saw length5E is firmly cramped against the table 21 to either side of the tip 7being machined throughout the machining operation so that any tendencyof the band saw body to twist or otherwise move is prevented.

The opposite ends of the clamping bar 38 can be connected to the rams 39of hydraulic ram units 40 supported by suitable supports 41 from themachine body 20 so that the clamping bar 38 can be lifted upwards toallow a saw to be moved for indexing purposes or passed therebeneathwhen mounting and/or removing a saw. During these indexing movements theguide bar 33 and the rolls 33A will be cooperating with the saw 5.

The clamping means 37 will, of course, need be released when the bladeis being indexed. It will, therefore, be understood that the operationof the clamping means will be inter-related with the operationalmovements of the grinding wheels and the indexing means 34. In practice,the clamping means 37 can be of any convenient form and will, inpractice, be located at the position of the machine at which theclamping means would achieve optimum performance.

As so far described it will be noted that in accordance with theinvention the body of the saw cooperates with the support surface 21i.e., in the embodiment shown is horizontally arranged for the purposesof grinding or which ever other operation i.e., machining, tipping, heattreating, swaging is required to be carried out on the saw. This, inpractical terms, means that in order to mount a band saw to be machinedonto the machine it is only necessary to offer the saw to the machine bymounting it upon the support wheels 23,24; lifting the clamping andguide means 37,33 to allow passage of the saw; pushing the saw 5 ontothe support table 21 until the rear edge thereof it is able to cooperatewith the guide 33 after it has been lowered; setting the wheels 23 and24 to achieve a requisite tension in the saw; ensuring alignment of therear edge of the length 5E with the guide 33; indexing the saw to a tipmachining position for the first tip to be machined; and operating theclamping means to cramp the length 5E towards the table 21. After thishas been achieved the machining operations can be started for cycliccontinuous operation.

As so far described it will be noted that the machine configuration issuch that the uppermost horizontal run 5A of the band saw is located inthe machining station.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which the lowermosthorizontal length 5B of the band saw is the one that is subjected to themachining or other operation.

In otherwords, the band saw is supported in an elevated position duringthe operation to be carried out upon the band saw.

To enable the positioning of the saw in the elevated position which Isshown in dashed lines in the FIG. 4 the shafts 25 associated with thewheels 23 and 24 are mounted in slide blocks or the like 44 mounted forcontrolled upwards and downwards movements in guide arrangements 45provided in the uprights 46 of a support frame arrangement 47 includinga cross piece 48. The support frame arrangement will be of suchparticular construction as to be capable of supporting the wheels 23 and24 when in an elevated position as shown by the dashed lines and at thelowered position, that is similar to the position shown in FIG. 3.

The slide blocks are displaceable with respect to the guide arrangementsby any convenient means. In the FIG. 4 a manually operable chain systemhas been indicated at 49. It will be understood that any form of controlfor the displacement of the wheels can be used. Although notspecifically shown in the Figure, it will understood that the particularconstruction of the support frame arrangement makes provision for theseparation between the shafts to be varied so as to accommodatediffering band saw lengths and for the mounting of a saw to the wheels23 and 24 and its subsequent removal. For example, the construction ofthe support frame arrangement can provide for the uprights to bemoveable towards and away from each other. Alternatively, the slideblocks can connect with bars or the like in which the shafts are mountedfor adjustable setting. It will also be appreciated that the structureof the support frame work will be such as to facilitate positioning ofthe band saw upon the wheels 23 and 24.

I claim:
 1. A method of handling a band saw for finishing saw teeth of the band saw, comprising the steps of: mounting the band saw upon a pair of rotatable supports positionally adjustable relative to each other to accommodate mounting and unloading different lengths of band saw, positioning said supports in a generally horizontal arrangement; raising the rotatable supports and a band saw carried thereby to such level with respect to a work position so that a lower length of the band saw is presented to said work position; advancing the supports and the thus mounted band saw to the work position at which the band saw can be subjected to at least one finishing operation; and effecting finishing operations comprising executing sharpening operations on at least one working face of each of the teeth of the band saw.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of indexing the band saw, to present, sequentially, each of the teeth of the band saw to said work position, and urging the band saw by means of a force produced by said indexing step, into guiding contact with a guide means for positioning the band saw with respect to the work position for purposes of effecting such said finishing operations.
 3. A method as claimed in claim 2, and wherein the step of urging the band saw comprises the steps of: providing at least one roll having an axis of rotation arranged at an angle with respect to the direction of displacement of the band saw, and applying the at least one roll in cooperating engagement with the band saw during indexing with respect to the work position.
 4. A method of handling a band saw comprising the steps of mounting the band saw upon a pair of rotatable supports positionally adjustable relative to each other to accommodate mounting and unloading different lengths of band saw, positioning said supports in a generally horizontal arrangement, raising the rotatable supports and a band saw carried thereby to such level with respect to a work position so that a lower length of the band saw is presented to said work position; advancing the supports and the thus mounted band saw to the work position at which the band saw can be subjected to at least one finishing operation; and executing finishing operations on at least one working face of each of the teeth of the band saw.
 5. An apparatus for handling a band saw for the purposes of mounting, effecting finishing operations upon the band saw at a work station and unloading the band saw, comprising: a plurality of adjustable and rotatably indexing supports for mounting a band saw in a generally horizontal setting at said work station, each support including an axis of rotation and a contacting surface for contacting the band saw so that the weight of the band saw is not carried by an edge of the saw; a supporting frame for positioning the supports relative to the work station so that said finishing operations can be carried out upon a length of the band saw that is uppermost as the band saw is mounted upon the supports, and an adjustment means for enabling positional adjustment of the separation of the axes of rotation of the supports to accommodate mounting and unloading differing band saw lengths; and displacement means for axially displacing the rotatable supports towards and away from said work station.
 6. An apparatus for handling a band saw, as described in claim 5, further comprising heightwise adjustment means for adjusting the height of the supports so that the band saw carried thereby can be raised to a level with respect to the work station so that said finishing operations can be carried out upon a length of the band saw that is lowermost as the band saw is mounted upon the supports is presented to the work station.
 7. An apparatus for handling a band saw, as described in claim 5, further comprising: a guide means for positioning the band saw at the work station, and force producing means utilizing the indexing of the supports and the band saw supported thereon with respect to the work station to produce a force which acts to urge the band saw into guiding contact with the guide means during such indexing.
 8. An apparatus for handling a band saw, as described in claim 7, wherein said force producing means comprises one roll cooperating with the band saw and having its axis of rotation arranged at an angle with respect to the direction of displacement of the band saw during indexing with respect to the work station. 